Characteristics of changes in the ultrastructure of neurons in the cerebral cortex of rats with cerebral ischemia of various severity degree

Abstract

The ultrastructural characteristics of neuron organellae are important indicators of the degree of brain damage during ischemic exposure, which necessitates the study of changes in the ultrastructure of brain neurons. Currently, there are no data on the severity degree of these disorders depending on the type of ischemic injury and its severity. These researches are relevant, as they allow us to study the nature of disorders of brain neurons at the ultrastructural level, depending on the severity of ischemia. Objectives. To study the nature of disorders of brain neurons at the ultrastructural level. Material and methods. Experiments were performed on 20 male rats weighing 260±20 g. Total cerebral ischemia was simulated by decapitation of animals, subtotal – by simultaneous ligation of both common carotid arteries. The material was taken 1 hour and 24 hours after the operation. The control group consisted of sham-operated rats of similar sex and weight. Results. There was a decrease in the size of mitochondria, disorganization of the cisterns of the endoplasmic reticulum and the Golgi complex, and an increase in the number of free ribosomes. At the same time, mitochondria became more rounded and less elongated. There was a decrease in the density and length of their cristae, which testifies to a decrease in the functional activity of mitochondria and the energy supply of neurons in the cerebral cortex. Conclusions. Both in total and subtotal cerebral ischemia, organellae are disorganized in the neurons of the parietal cortex and hippocampus, causing profound disturbances in energy production and metabolism.

Keywords

• neurons
• parietal cortex
• hippocampus
• ischemia
• brain